I can't help it. I am eternally entertained by the feud between Eminem and Mariah Carey.

Billy Bob Thornton being the world's BIGGEST douchebag at a radio interview. Just for good measure, he slams Canadians too.

B, coming upstairs: Oh god... I have "I've Had The Time of My Life" running through my head... and of course, with that song there are automatically visuals...

Me: (saying nothing, looking blank)

slatergirl: Patrick Swazye...

B: in his, you know... (here he makes hand gestures)

Slatergirl: tight little butt pants.

B: YES!

Me (looking increasingly alarmed): Uhm. Is there a reference here that I'm not understanding?

(They both look at me like I'm mentally challenged, or alternately, just pathetic.)

B: He danced to it. You know, in Dirty Dancing.

Me (light dawning): Oh! I was totally thinking of Patrick... Patrick...

B: Dempsey?

Me: No... you know. Jean-Luc Picard.

B and Slatergirl, in unsion: Patrick STEWART!

Me: Yes! And you know, I couldn't figure out the "tight little butt pants" comment, 'cuz, I mean, I guess the Star Trek uniforms were pretty form fitting, but...

That would have been the end of it... except later, when I sat down in front of my computer, B had found this lovely little number and enlarged it on my screen:



My household is a lot of fun sometimes.

So I was talking to a client today about Britney's disastrous VMA performance, and she was wondering where she could find it. I went home and found the YouTube clip to send to her, and while looking for it I found Britney's 2000 VMA performance of Oops, I Did It Again.

The difference is tragic... and it got me thinking about some things.

The 2000 performance is great... she's pretty on with her dance moves, the lip synching is spot on, and it's very, very sexy. Watching it, I realized that this girl was about 18 when she did this, portrayed this sex kitten to the masses. Anyone remember the Rolling Stone cover from 1999? She was very sexualized in that photo, too... in a different way of course... a bit more innocent, while not being at all innocent. Wasn't she still claiming to be a virgin then?

This girl has been hyper-sexualized since long before then, and working in an industry where hyper-sexualizing young girls is the standard since she was what, 12 or so?

The thing is, I remember being that age, and pushing my own sexual boundaries as I figured out where my place was in this world. Hell, I remember doing that for most of my 20's. Being sexually precocious is pretty natural and normal at that age, I think... but here's the thing.

When I watch that 2000 performance, I see a girl who's not exploring for herself... She's a conduit for everyone else's fantasies. Her fame trapped her into a role, and I don't think she had the brains or the strength to realize it was happening, and maybe still doesn't.

In the 2007 VMA performance, there's a moment at the beginning of the performance where the camera zeroes in on her face. The girl looks both terrified, and blank, if that's possible.

I really hope if I ever have a little girl, she never ends up in show business.

Neil Patrick Harris bursts into spontaneous Les Mis...



From Karina.

Manolo the Shoe Blogger tells us to leave Britney alone.

What the Britney Spears really needs is to eat the tub of ice cream, have the good cry, deface the photo of the Federline, and get back to work so that she may regain the self-confidence that is hers by right of talent.

Of the course, there is also great restorative power in shopping for the shoes.

I do so love the Manolo.